I just discovered the manual EQ adjustments in my Denon receiver. You copy the flat curve to manual EQ and adjust from there. Just been playing with it so far to determine which freq my ears are sensitive to. Trying to tame Adele's voice. Not an easy task.

I also thought that turning dynamic EQ off was the same thing as turning the EQ off. Now I understand that dynamic EQ just means that certain lower frequencies are turned up as you turn the volume down.

Brian, as was pointed out before, the Audyssey adjustments can't be "copied" to the manual EQ. The specific frequencies in the manual EQ are the only things that are duplicated; all the other frequency and time adjustments are lost in manual. Dr. Kyriakakis termed this "crude".

Yes, the frequency and time EQ adjustments remain in effect if Dynamic EQ is off. Dynamic EQ(automatically)increases bass and to a lesser extent treble to compensate for the lesser sensitivity of ears to those frequencies as lower volume levels occur during play. The surrounds are also made slightly more prominent at the lower levels. Incidentally, Dynamic EQ was only suggested to be turned off to allow for tone control settings, not permanently.

Ok. Still playing around with it and trying to understand it. So far, I seem to like manual EQ, after flat curve copied to it, and all channels decrease 2k about 2.5 decibels. Seems a bit easier on the ears, but subtle differences when A/B between Audyssey and Manual.

Only problem is it still sounds better overall on Audysey. Better balanced like, only with the approx 2k freq a little grating on the ears.

Audyssey applies a lot of extra volume to the 2k when I check it on the Manual setting after the flat curve copy. This is true for L/C/R. I'm wondering if the v3 speakers have a cross-over somewhere around 2k, probably a bit higher, and Audyssey is boosting that spot to make up for a dip? But with negative results in my particular setup. Not a sign of a particular defective cross-over because it affects all speakers evenly.

If so, then this again is where Pioneer's MCACC would win over Audyssey. Because their manual adjustments doesn't shut everything else off.

I think maybe my next check ought to be running a frequency sweep using my RatShack meter on a tripod. Twice. Once with Audyssey on and once with it off. Writing down the readings for each freq checked. (Need to keep cat busy else where. She's in pain during the higher notes. Glad I don't have a dog.)

Adding the surrounds to the mix just seems to have enhanced the overall problem. Adding more higher frequencies to the mix.

Other than my high frequency problem, the Axiom speakers are great speakers. I just wish I could get my problem solved so I'd have nothing but positive things to say. It seems that swapping out the Denon receiver for a Pioneer would be my logical next step. Since I've never experienced these problems with the Pioneer. But my main speakers then were all v2. That still leaves a slim possibility that the v3 is my problem.

Doesn't take long for those home renovations to add up. I'm doing mine a little at a time. Last year I had a basement wall braced (from the outside) and the living room and HT revamped.

This year, I plan on paying someone to tear out all the concrete in the front of the house (stoop, and walkway to garage) and replace it with concrete from house to 1 foot past existing sidewalk for a 2 tiered walk and pattio (meaning there are a few steps down to the lower level). Plus finishing up a bedroom I tore up to re-make it into an office space. Plus payback a loan on my 401k for the living room furniture and rug, in 1 year instead of the 2 I took out.

And try and replace the carpet in the hallway and steps leading down to the living room. Color ideas? Red to match the walls, or curtains, or area rug?

Next year, taking out the downstairs door by concreting up the wall. Then start on the 2 rooms in the downstairs that got destroyed by water from a storm. Water leaked under the door I want to take out. I'm not doing any renovation there until that door is gone.

Looks like I'll be able to order the Pioneer SC-65 a week from today. Currently $1120 on Amazon. I read somewhere that this year Pioneer won't honor warranties if you buy from any on-line sellers. Can anyone verify this one way or the other?